In a month's time, anyone classed as a British citizen will need a UK passport to fly there - but citizenship status rules are complex. Internal Affairs stresses that information suggesting the UK Passport Office can cancel a New Zealand passport - sent to it as part of verification for a new British passport - is incorrect. "The UK Passport Office has no power to cancel a NZ passport. "If you have not had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006, you'll usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document," it says. "An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport," it says.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 24, 2026 17:48 UTC